Artist Theia Constas receives a tour of Italy from her grandmother as a college graduation present. Before she departs, her ya-ya’s deathbed revelation of a cache of WW II photographs and love letters extends Theia’s itinerary to Crete in search of her unknown grandfather, a promising artist who studied under Chagall but didn’t survive the war.

Wade Bingham, an actuary who always follows the rules and calculates the odds, finds himself alone on his honeymoon trip, wondering why his fiancée jilted him at the last minute.

In the wrong place at the wrong time when their hotel in Florence, Italy, is besieged by terrorists, the two strangers find themselves thrust together in Wade’s honeymoon suite. Immediately attracted to each other, Wade conducts a siege of his own to win Theia’s heart.About the Author:

Marilyn Baron writes in a variety of genres, from women’s fiction to historical romantic thrillers and romantic suspense to paranormal/fantasy. Her latest book, The Siege: A Novel, a mainstream women’s fiction set in Italy and Greece, released January 8, 2018, is her 14th novel with The Wild Rose Press, Inc. and her 23rd work of fiction. AmazonEncore republished her psychic suspense novel Sixth Sense in 2015. She is also one of six authors of Love Around the Table, a short story anthology published November 1, 2017. She’s published five short stories with TWB Press.She’s received writing awards in Single Title, Suspense Romance, Novel With Strong Romantic Elements and Paranormal//Fantasy Romance. She is The 2017 Finalist for the Georgia Author of the Year Awards in the Romance Category for Stumble Stones: A Novel.A public relations consultant in Atlanta, Marilyn graduated with a BS in Journalism (Public Relations) and a minor in English (Creative Writing) from the University of Florida. She worked in Public Relations for AT&T in Atlanta for 13 years before starting her own PR firm.She serves on the 2018-2019 Roswell Reads Steering Committee and the Atlanta Authors committee and she presented on an Atlanta Writers Club panel at the 2017 AJC-Decatur Book Festival.

Read more about Marilyn’s books, short stories, and other works of fiction at http://www.marilynbaron.com.Connect with Marilyn:Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Website

Beneath the earth’s surface, candles
cast abstract patterns on the backs of nine people huddled together. The wind
whipped the sooty air, causing flames to flash and sketch skewed halos across
the participants’ heads. Someone groaned, others sighed, a testament to the
evening’s grueling debate. Only their leader remained focused, smoothed over
differences, preventing hurtful words or actions from spinning off into
permanent wounds.

“I’m willing to go over the issue
again,” he said, “even though I doubt further discussion is necessary.”

A female spoke up. “I don’t like any
of this. Maybe we should just admit defeat.”

The leader turned to her, his
creased forehead and steely demeanor barely visible in the amber glow; still,
she felt his cool appraisal, and more significantly his release of animal
pheromone, bending her to his will. She shrank back.

“There’ll be no admission of
defeat,” he said. “No giving up. Sometimes we have to make hard choices. Risk
everything if necessary.” His voice was calm but with a serrated edge, since he
had learned years ago that he could get more with subtle intimidation, using
tricks as simple as flared nostrils. Of course, if more was needed, threats
remained a viable option.

Another man spoke up. “I’ve made my
decision,” he said with a wink toward the leader, “and I’m ready to vote. We’ve
been going round and round for the past month. I think we should just get this
over with.”

“I’m ready too,” said the leader. “But”—he
held up a finger—“with one stipulation. Due to the subject matter, I don’t want
to use secret ballots like we usually do. This must be a unanimous decision. I
need to know we’re in this together.” He looked at each member. “Agreed?”

There was fidgeting, murmurs,
grunts, but finally nods of approval all around.

“Good. Then let’s do it. Everyone
knows my position. We’ve covered the pros and cons down to the last detail. So
if you trust me, believe in me, you’ll follow my recommendation. Now those in
favor, raise your hands.”

Immediately, five hands shot up, then
two others, and, after a protracted pause, an eighth. Only a half-smile
appeared on the leader’s face since one more affirmation was needed to ensure
complete triumph. He narrowed his eyes to envelop the sole dissident, a
plain-looking woman known for her stubbornness. “Mary, Mary, Mary,” he said,
repeating her name with a shake of his head. Taken aback at being the lone
holdout, the woman felt a catch in her throat followed by an acrid taste on her
tongue, prompting second thoughts. Like a helium balloon, her hand soared into
the air.

“That’s better,” said the leader,
staring at the troublemaker with a laser beam’s intensity. Springing to his
feet, he rose on his toes, adding not only height but the illusion of strength.
“The motion is approved,” he said, chest out, smiling ear to ear. “And now, my
friends, my dear, dear friends—I bid you a pleasant night.”

Horror erupts when newlyweds, Karen and Jeremy, cross paths with members of a diabolical cult inside a West Virginia cave. Living below the earth’s surface has triggered mutations, rendering the cult members nearly infertile. Their leader, a wild-eyed, cunning brute, refuses to let the couple leave, believing they and their potential offspring hold the key to surviving underground. Are Karen and Jeremy doomed to spend their lives inside this sunless, subterranean wasteland, or do they escape before their minds shatter and their bodies betray them? About the Author:

Nancy Widrew was born and raised in NYC before settling in New England with her husband. She has two grown children and two four-legged furry ones, always a source of amusement. She has had short stories published in webzines and a print anthology. This is her first novel.

When Kathy Taylor receives word that she has been left a million dollars by her late aunt, she doesn’t believe a word of it. Nothing good ever happens to her. Reluctantly, she goes to see her aunt’s attorney, Devon York. Devon simply takes her breath away… he’s tall, good-looking and has a British accent. However, there is a big catch in the will. Kathy must attend the annual Dubois Charity Ball wearing the dress Devon is holding.

Is the man crazy? The dress is a size 8 and Kathy is a size 16. She is an emotional eater so she might as well kiss that money goodbye.

Devon made a promise to Catherine Dubois to help her niece, and it’s a job he’s dreaded. But when Kathy storms into his office and asks if he is absolutely crazy, he finds she is a breath of fresh air. So he volunteers to coach Miss Taylor, which doesn’t prove easy, especially when Kathy’s sister keeps sabotaging her diet.

As sparks fly, they battle the ups and downs of their relationship. Will Kathy become that bright shiny diamond her aunt always wanted her to be or will she remain a diamond in the rough?About the Author:

Amazon All-Star author, Brenda Jernigan is a bestselling author. She writes both contemporary and historical novels. She has been nominated for several awards – Book Seller’s Best Award, The Maggie Award, The Holt Medallion Award and a RONE Award.

She grew up as a tomboy and really had no use for books. It wasn’t until she was taking her son to Story Hour at the local library that the librarian gave her a copy of DEVIL’S DESIRE by Laurie McBain. After that Brenda became hooked on historicals. Brenda’s first book, THE DUKE’S LADY, was bought and published by Kensington Publishing and her career as a storyteller took off.

Brenda loves to hear from readers. You can email her at bkj1608 @ juno.com.

3 - Subject line of your email should be Diamond in the Rough.4 - Include your first and last name and email.5 - The winner will be chosen from the correct entries and awarded on July 21, 2018. The winner will be announced on Brenda's newsletter.Giveaway # 2: Win $10 Amazon Gift CardContest runs from November 14 - 20, 2017.

On the eve of his tenth birthday, a young slave’s life is turned upside down. The unthinkable events that led up to the day Oscar Mercer saw a hummingbird test the limits of this young boy’s body, mind and soul. Gripped with fear and filled with anger, Oscar faces raw, crushing hatred aimed at him and everyone he loves. In a time when a nation was ripped apart geographically, economically, politically and morally, comes a story of a courageous boy who began life as a slave on a sugarcane plantation in Louisiana and escapes via the Underground Railroad. Through the efforts and good will of kind, brave people determined to free slaves, Oscar faces devastating obstacles and dangers. Struggling with his inner impulse to seek revenge for the injustices and violence levied on his family and friends, he discovers that in bondage you pray to God, but in freedom you meet Him. From the award-winning, best-selling author of The Seven Year Dress comes a story that brings another cadre of memorable characters alive on pages that pulse with hatred and kindness, cruelty and compassion, despair and hope. Oscar’s journey on the Underground Railroad is a heart-pounding ride that the reader will remember long after this story ends.

"A superb portrayal of courage and strength of the human spirit. A poignant and unforgettable page-turner. I loved every page." Jana Petken, bestselling author of The Guardian of Secrets.

About the Author:

Paulette Mahurin is a best selling literary fiction and historical fiction novelist. She lives with her husband Terry and two dogs, Max and Bella, in Ventura County, California. She grew up in West Los Angeles and attended UCLA, where she received a Master’s Degree in Science.

Her first novel, The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap, made it to Amazon bestseller lists and won awards, including best historical fiction 2012 in Turning the Pages Magazine. Her second novel, His Name Was Ben, originally written as an award winning short story while she was in college and later expanded into a novel, rose to bestseller lists its second week out. Her third novel, To Live Out Loud, won international critical acclaim and made it to multiple sites as favorite read book of 2015. Her fourth book, The Seven Year Dress, made it to the top ten bestseller lists on Amazon U.S., Amazon U.K. and Amazon Australia. Her fifth book, The Day I Saw The Hummingbird, is schedules for release in 2017. Semi-retired, she continues to work part-time as a Nurse Practitioner in Ventura County. When she’s not writing, she does pro-bono consultation work with women with cancer, works in the Westminster Free Clinic as a volunteer provider, volunteers as a mediator in the Ventura County Courthouse for small claims cases, and involves herself, along with her husband, in dog rescue. Profits from her books go to help rescue dogs from kill shelters.